This Friday, the French national team will play its third match of the 2026 World Cup against Norway at 9:00 PM at Gillette Stadium. The match involves five Paris Saint-Germain players—all French: Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé. L’Équipe reports a projected lineup this Thursday featuring two PSG players and a few changes compared to the win over Iraq.
Mbappé
Doué – Olise – Dembélé
Tchouaméni – Koné
T. Hernandez – Lacroix – Upamecano – Gusto
Maignan.
We should remain cautious; this is not an official announcement, and changes are possible. In fact, Le Parisien proposed a different starting XI yesterday. The lineup could still change before tomorrow evening, especially given the various options available for the match against Norway.
The squad is deep, and rotation is a possibility given the tight schedule—particularly since qualification is already secured. The match is a battle for first place; while that spot isn’t the absolute priority, it remains significant. Les Bleus head into the game with a goal-difference advantage (+1), meaning a draw would suffice.
Even so, a draw shouldn’t be the goal. The selected team will be aiming for a win—for the sake of the standings, confidence, and momentum. The challenge lies in finding the right formula. The coaching staff might also look to integrate certain players during the match, such as Lucas Hernandez and Zaïre-Emery.
